Everybody's Doing It Now

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Still on Conduct":

"Theere was no precedent "

Maybe not in Aurora, but I know of two instances in Newmarket where DCs were waived.

Posted by Anonymous to Our Town and Its Business at 14 January 2015 at 10:47

*************************

Thank you for the comment. 

I've written four drafts of posts in the last couple of days then just didn't feel like posting them. 

There seemed to be more than enough  noise without adding to it.

I'm not surprised Newmarket  issued  two permits without collecting development charges.

A lot of time is spent in municipal circles looking around to see what other people are doing

Aurora  Council directs staff to inquire from other municipalities what they do. Safety in numbers I guess.

I am reminded of a childhood admonition; if so-and-so jumped off a cliff would you do it too?

It's an odd concept of leadership.

Provincial regulations require adoption of  Development Charges Bylaw. I've never heard of a clause allowing for excemtions.

DCs  bring in millions of dollars to municipalities in the GTA. They add thousands to the cost of housing  and other development.  In turn  that adds  to market value to new property,  increases assessment leading to higher taxes

In the long run spending  $26 million on a public works building, manning and operating multiple recreation facilities during more hours of down time than operating is less an asset  and more of a liability.

But it is the system government has created.

At the.very least there should be equity in its application.

Here's a thought.

We have a town hall that accommodates  x numbers of employees

Statutory holidays number thirteen. In a year,thirteen four day weeks. All others weeks are five/ eight-hour days.

New employees start with three week vacations. Entitlement increases a week every five years of employment to a maximum of six. Plus sick day entitlements.

A senior employee can occupy his of her space ,probably an office, fifty-two weeks , less six for vacation , thirteen four day weeks, less  time off in lieu for time spent at Council and Council-
Committee meetings ,sick day entitlements, birthdays and days spent at conventions, one or more
a year.

Every work space is equipped  with computers et al.

The building is maintained  365 days a year ,twenty -four hour/seven.

Actual occupation is a fraction of that time, varying up the ladder.

Taxes  are collected to create reserve funds for replacement costs of the building on the basis of  age.

Retail Malls  stay open  seven days a week until  ten at night  to justify operating costs.People are working through the night,stacking shelves.

Industry operates  in shifts for best  and highest use of facilities.

But Town halls, public works buildings, recreation and government buildings all  sit idle longer than they are used and we keep adding more.

It wasn't like that before the advent of DCs.

It's like that now because governments have the money and can always get more where that came  from and ....let some people  are let off the hook if Council so chooses.

Everybody's  doin'  it ..doin'  it...doin' it.  Everybody's doin' it nowwwww